Neopanax arboreus
Neopanax arboreus or five finger (Māori: puahou or whauwhaupaku), is a New Zealand native tree belonging to the family Araliaceae. It is one of New Zealand's more common native trees, being found widely in bush, scrub and gardens throughout both islands. The compound leaves with five to seven leaflets, hence the common name, are very characteristic of the tree and easily recognized.
| Five finger | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Apiales |
| Family: | Araliaceae |
| Genus: | Neopanax |
| Species: | N. arboreus |
| Binomial name | |
| Neopanax arboreus | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Closely related and very similar to five finger are N. laetus, N. colensoi, and N. macintyrei.
Description
Leaflets obovate-oblong to oblong-cuneate, thinly coriaceous, coarsely serrate-dentate. Flowers usually unisexual; inflorescences are compound umbels with 8-20 primary branchlets up to 10 cm long, 15-20 secondary rays, umbellules with 10-15 flowers in each. Calyx truncate or obscurely 5-toothed; flowers 5mm in diameter, sweet-scented; petals 5, white to pink flushed, ovate to triangular, acute; stamens 5; ovary 2-loculed, each containing 1(-2) ovules; style branches 2, spreading. Fruit fleshy, very dark purple, laterally compressed, 5–8 mm diam.; style branches retained on an apical disc. Seeds 2(-3) per fruit, wrinkled, 3–6 mm long.
Ecology
Neopanax arboreus is a host species for the caterpillar of the endemic North Island moth Declana atronivea.[3]
References
- Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) & IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group. 2018. Neopanax arboreus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T135793264A135793266. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T135793264A135793266.en. Accessed 13 May 2023.
- Neopanax arboreus (L.f.) Allan. Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
- Hudson, G. V. (1898). New Zealand moths and butterflies (Macro-lepidoptera). London: West, Newman & Co. pp. 95–96. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.7912. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
- New Zealand Plant Conservation Network, URL:Pseudopanax arboreus. Accessed 2010-10-04.